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Includes news, events, job opportunities, and updates on all things compost-related in Minnesota.

News, Events, and Training

Minnesota Composting Council Newsletter - August 2026 2026 Kevin Tritz Memorial Fund Golf Tournament Thank You to Our Golfers & Sponsors! Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Kevin Tritz Memorial Golf Tournament on Tuesday, August 18, at Como Park Golf Course! It was a great day of golf, friendship, and honoring Kevin’s memory. Thanks to our golfers, sponsors, and supporters, we raised $13,080 for the Kevin Tritz Memorial Fund, bringing the total raised to $86,000 to support educational and scholarship programs in the industry. Congratulations to our overall winners, Team Suburban Waste: Rick Sievers, Ryan Johnson, Bruce Goodwin, and Doug Link. A special thank you to our sponsors: SET/WM, Vonco, Loras College, Hennen Equipment, Inc., EcoProducts, Suburban Waste Services, Dakota Prairie, and Torgerson Machinery. We appreciate everyone who continues to support this event and help keep Kevin’s memory and legacy alive by contributing to the memorial fund. Kevin Tritz Memorial Fund – Making a Difference Since 2020 Since the Kevin Tritz Memorial Fund (KTM Fund) was established in 2020, it has provided more than $26,500 in support for education, scholarships, research, and resources that strengthen the composting and organics recycling industry. Support has included: ICAW sponsorship: More than $3,000 College scholarships and sponsorships: $9,000 Nitrogen/Phosphorus White Paper: $500 Compost Handbook: $5,000 — supporting the “Composter Bible” used by composters across the country MN Standardizing Compost White Paper: $9,000 We are proud of the impact the KTM Fund has made since 2020 and grateful to everyone who has contributed to Kevin’s lasting legacy. Fall member networking event The Fall Virtual Networking event will take place on Tuesday, September 15th from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Creekside Soil outreach and education coordinator Cassandra Meuffels will share about the Hutchinson area's recent organics campaign. Register here. Cassandra Meuffels is the Outreach and Education Coordinator for Creekside Soils, part of the City of Hutchinson’s pioneering source-separated organics program, one of the oldest in Minnesota. Hutchinson’s citywide curbside organics collection provides over 4,000 single-family households with the opportunity to recycle food scraps and yard waste. MNCC and Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy collaborate on compost education events Join the Food Scraps Pickup Program for a free educational event where you’ll learn how food  scraps are transformed into a valuable resource called compost. Discover the basics of composting, learn how the Food Scraps Pickup Program works and take home free materials to make getting started easy. All attendees will receive a free food scrap collection container, Food Scraps Pickup Program trial kits and complimentary compost!  Whether you’re new to composting, considering joining the program or already participating, you’ll leave with practical knowledge, tips, helpful resources and everything you need to get started with confidence. Registration is open to current residents of Ramsey and Washington counties. Space is limited, and registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Pope/Douglas Board Hearing on Future of Organics Program During a meeting on August 20th, the Pope/Douglas Solid Waste (Joint Powers) Board considered options regarding organics collection and/or operation of the regional Glacial Ridge Compost Facility near Hoffman, MN. The facility opened in September of 2024. During the meeting, numerous community members, MPCA, and MNCC testified in support of the continued operation of the site. Following the meeting, MNCC Board Member Nathan Reinbold said, "There was a tremendous outpouring of support by residents and the business community to not only continue organics recycling collection and composting programs, but to double down on growing these programs and opportunities. The Pope/Douglas Joint Powers Board and both directors of the member county Land and Resource Management departments know what is at stake and their roles to continue and grow the leading efforts of Pope/Douglas as a regional leader." USCC Joins National Coalition to End Wasted Food and Expand Composting In September 2025, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), ReFED, WRAP, the Ad Council, the US Composting Council (USCC), and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) formed a coalition to launch a five-year program, “Ending Wasted Food Within a Generation” (EWF Program), to prevent wasted food and expand composting in the United States. This multi-effort program will create systemic change by combining a PSA campaign inspiring consumers to reduce wasted food, compost market development, and local community capacity building. The program runs from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2030. More information about the Ending Wasted Food Within a Generation Program can be found at grants.endingwastedfood.org.  Read more USCC Resources - Persistent Herbicides Persistent herbicides remain an important issue for compost manufacturers and the communities they serve. These herbicides, commonly used to control broadleaf weeds, can persist through the composting process and damage sensitive plants when compost containing persistent herbicides is applied. While incidents may be infrequent, their impacts can be challenging for compost producers, customers, and public confidence. To help facilities proactively detect and respond to persistent herbicide contamination, the US Composting Council has assembled a collection of educational materials: An overview of persistent herbicides and how they enter compost feedstocks Guidance on identifying plant injury symptoms Best practices for reducing contamination risks Additional educational resources and references Visit the Webpage Upcoming webinars and events August 25 - 12 p.m. CST: BioCycle Investigates: Is Regulation Keeping Up with Depackaging? Food waste depackaging is scaling fast and regulation is scrambling to catch up. BioCycle’s Nora Goldstein and Paula Luu are hosting an hour-long webinar — BioCycle Investigates: Is Regulation Keeping Up with Depackaging? — on August 25th at 12pm (EST) to walk through new nationwide research on how states are (and aren’t) overseeing depackaging facilities, contamination limits, and the microplastics data gap.  August 27: From Dining Hall to Compost Pile: Successes and Challenges in Campus Composting When you combine centralized dining, vibrant sustainability programs, and passionate student leaders, you get the perfect breeding ground for composting programs: college campuses. And yet, campus composting programs face unique challenges that require specific solutions. In this webinar, you’ll hear from three colleges across the country with exemplary campus composting programs—Williams College, the Auraria Campus, and University of Arizona—that all take a unique approach to diverting and composting organic waste. You will learn about what it took to launch these programs, the challenges and barriers they overcame, and how they are growing their impact in the future. By the end, you will leave with actionable strategies for launching or growing a composting program on your campus.   August 28: USCC Webinar: How to Plan a Pumpkin Smash Event For Your Community New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) is excited to host a webinar featuring Tom Twente (Grow Amsterdam NY), Dan Lilkas-Rain (Town of Bethlehem), Kaitlynn McCumiskey (Ontario County) and Caitlin Orellana (Science Museum of Long Island) to discuss planning a pumpkin smash event for your community. All are welcome! Compost Operations Training Courses August 31 - September 4, 2026: CREF - Compost Operations Training Course - Raleigh, NC Build practical composting knowledge through in-depth instruction, hands-on activities, a team pile build, monitoring exercises, and local facility tours designed for both new and experienced professionals. September 15 - September 17 - Midwest Compost Training School - Wauconda Township, IL The Midwest Compost Training School, organized by compost professionals from Illinois and Wisconsin, is a comprehensive, educational and hands-on training program for compost facility staff and composting professionals. October 19 - 23, 2026: CREF - Compost Operations Training Course - Denver, Co Jumpstart or expand your career in composting with CREF’s renowned 5-day training course. Gain a real-world understanding of the art and science of commercial-scale compost production, uses, and marketing. In the News California compostables bills, opposed by BPI, won't advance AB 1812 and SB 1031, which relate to plastics and labeling, failed to clear appropriations. Maria Rachal | August 18, 2026 | WasteDive Two California bills related to plastics in compostables are not advancing after failing to clear a key appropriations deadline last week. AB 1812 would have prohibited the sale of “compostable” or “home compostable” products that are made entirely or partially of plastic. It passed the Assembly by a 64-1 vote this spring before being sent to the Senate. The bill’s backers as of May included the California Compost Coalition as well as haulers and composters such as WM, Recology, Republic Services and Waste Connections. But it was also opposed by BPI, Californians Against Waste and others. SB 1031 previously passed the Senate by a 29-9 vote and was ordered to the Assembly. It aimed to tighten labeling practices for compostables to better distinguish them from noncompostable products, and study the potential health impacts of degraded compostable plastics and related chemical additives. As of May, supporters included Californians Against Waste and the California Compost Coalition. Opposition came from BPI, Atlantic Packaging, Nature Works and others. Read More Note: MNCC submitted written comments to various California Legislators on the potential impact of AB1812 could have on the industry overall, not just California. From Tribal Nations to Counties, Composting Projects Nationwide Are Winning Major Grants Paula Luu | August 11, 2026 | BioCycle Magazine A string of recent grant awards is putting millions of dollars into new and expanded composting infrastructure across the U.S., with communities using the funding to move projects from planning into construction and operation. Recent awards in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and several Tribal Nations are funding everything from full-scale processing facilities to food scrap collection, composting equipment, vehicles, staffing, and site improvements. Read more Clay County, Minnesota, wins $2 million to launch a food-waste composting program Leslie Sattler | Sun, July 26, 2026 | The Cool Down A new state investment is set to help Clay County, Minnesota, begin keeping more organic waste out of its landfill. The $2 million award is intended to get a composting effort off the ground so food scraps can be converted into a useful soil product instead of becoming planet-warming waste. InForum reported that Clay County and its Climate Action Group, local residents focused on climate issues, were awarded $2 million by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to develop an organics composting program. Officials plan to launch collection at schools and other places that serve daily meals, later expanding to public drop-off sites for residents. Read more Walters Recycling & Refuse Inc. Announces Opening of New Facility Featuring Advanced Organics Sorting System July 30, 2026 | Waste Advantage Walters Recycling & Refuse Inc., a leader in sustainable waste and resource management solutions, announced the opening of its new facility and the commissioning of a state-of-the-art organics sorting system, marking a significant advancement in regional material recovery and environmental stewardship. The new system is designed to enhance the separation and recovery of organic materials, enabling more efficient diversion from landfill, and supporting the growing demand for sustainable waste processing solutions across the region. Read more Job Opportunities Eureka Recycling - Director of Policy & Advocacy Minneapolis, MN Date: August 2026 Terms: Regular full-time, exempt; may be eligible for limited remote work Compensation: $80,000-$90,000 annually, depending on experience Benefits: 100% paid health insurance for the employee, life insurance, and long-term disability. (Other insurance lines available at a shared or employee cost). PTO and paid holidays. This position leads the organization’s policy advocacy, coalition engagement, and strategic communications efforts, with the goal of driving systemic change toward a more stable climate, stronger regional economies, and healthier, more just communities. Reporting to the Co-President and CEO, and working in close collaboration with both Co-Presidents, this role is deeply embedded in efforts to elevate the organization’s voice, visibility, and influence. The Director of Policy and Advocacy helps to shape and direct Eureka’s public policy work at local, regional, and national level. This includes developing advocacy campaigns, cultivating community and policy partnerships, advancing legislation, coordinating coalition efforts, and leading messaging strategies. This position also plays a key role in impact tracking related to advocacy and communications. In partnership with the Alliance of Mission-Based Recyclers (AMBR), which is fiscally sponsored by Eureka, this position supports shared messaging, national campaigns, and systems change initiatives that reflect the operational and mission-based expertise of AMBR’s member organizations. Support Composting in Minnesota Join or Renew your MNCC Membership Today If you'd like an invoice for membership, please email us at [email protected] Follow MNCC on Social Media See the latest news and events on Facebook: Minnesota Composting Council Follow MNCC on Instagram: @mncompostingcouncil Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Minnesota Composting Council on YouTube Request for Submissions If you have an article, event, idea, or event you'd like to share, please send your submissions to: Mary Cich at [email protected]. The Minnesota Composting Council is dedicated to the development, expansion, and promotion of the composting industry based upon sound science, principles of sustainability, and economic viability. mncompostingcouncil.org   The Minnesota Composting Council is the MN State Chapter of the United States Composting Council. The Minnesota Composting Council received its non-profit status from the State of Minnesota in January 2013. It officially became the State Chapter of the United States Composting Council (USCC) in December 2013.

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